Sort of "serrated"

If you are looking at the actual item,......NO idea.
If you are looking at a photo, then likely the digital photo is doing that.

That gun looks to have been restocked, or Winchester did a crappy job on it. The cheek panels are entirely different, right and left .... not to mention the terrible edge treatment on the rear of the left action panel side and the serrated look of the bottom tang, right side.

The digital aspect could not be doing what I'm seeing on the cheek panels. And, why would the digital aspect cause it on the bottom and left sides of the action, but not on the right?

SRH

Yikes, it ain’t right.

It is all in the photos. Nothing is serrated. That is digital photography for you. The two cheek panels are photoed at different angles and distances.

What Brent said, digital photo quirks.

It's not all the digital aspect.

What I am seeing is that the top line of the left hand cheek panel does not meet up with the top line of the action metal, and there is a "hump" in that top line of the cheek panel that is not present on the right side.

Maybe the "serrations" we're seeing can be blamed on digital photography, but not the misshapened cheek panel.


SRH

The cheek panels look different, but its a field grade 21. I've seen girls who didn't quite match up either. Not really a problem in my mind...Geo

I concurr, Stan-- the older Winchesters were advertised, at least in my 1938 Salesman Catalog- as having the stock wood "Proud of the Steel" aprox. 1/16"- one of the many ways to determine either a re-stock or a wood refinish is if the stock wood (and including the forearm on the M21 and M24 doubleguns- is flush with the steel.

My late Dad's 12 M21 field grade was built in 1940- he accquired it used in 1948-gave it to me in 1980-- It has been shot but well cared for- The gold plated trigger selector button in the blade still shows the gold plating, albiet with wear. The M21 shown in this posting shows a silvery-grey selector button. ???? RWTF

How about the checkering? That doesn't appear to be up to par. Restock

The OP asked about the "serrations" effect in the photo, that's the digital photography.

As for the cheek panels and checkering, you guys can discuss that, I never found the M21 attractive enough to learn much about them.

So right, Rob. Point taken.

Thanks, SRH

Agreed- I wouldn't own one if my Dad hadn't bought it used in 1948. Now a Model 12-- that's a whole nother ballgame, IMO!! RWTF

All the early guns look like that. They are still wonderful guns. Saw one lately for $1000 and it probably could be bought for less. Those guys who disparage this gun have never owned, shot, or held one. Of course, that goes for Parkers, Foxes, and Purdeys too. As for the checkering, follow the lines from the pattern edges, measure the lines per inch, and then check back with me. Maybe you like checkering that is not ninety years old and has not had the sweat and oil cleaned out. Sheesh!

Looks like typical late 1930s-40s Model 21 Standard Grade checkering to me.

Pretty good work as I see it.